#FlashbackFriday 1990: Florida Campus Expansion

A large crowd turned out in March to celebrate the groundbreaking for the Phase II expansion project at Mayo Clinic Jacksonville and to enjoy sunny skies, free food and musical entertainment.

“We are entering a new phase at Mayo Clinic Jacksonville,” remarked Dr. Leo Black, chairman, Mayo Clinic Jacksonville Board of Governors. “The first phase was getting started. The next phase will be one of consolidation and of development of long-term plans and direction for the clinic.”

Dr. Robert Waller, chief executive officer and president of Mayo Foundation, noted that several years ago, the clinic site was a pine forest. “Today it is a place of healing and home to one of the largest group practices in the Southeast.

“When we first started this venture a few years ago, we wondered if Mayo Clinic could be reproduced outside Rochester, Minnesota. This ceremony is confirmation that our hopes have become a reality. All of us in the Mayo system congratulate you and your accomplishment and celebrate with you the beginning of the next step in your journey,” said Dr. Waller.

Pictured above are Drs. Black (right) and Waller (center), as well as Dr. Richard Weeks, former chairman of the Board of Governors.

Construction began in April and is expected to be completed by fall 1991. The $29 million expansion project will more than double the size of Jacksonville’s facilities. The project will add three stories to the top of the Davis Building as well as four stories on the north side. A total of 170,000 square feet of new space will be added to the existing 150,000-square-foot facility. When new construction is completed remodeling of existing space will begin.

One change from original plans is that space for research has been eliminated. Current plans are to build a separate research building.